Participants at NXT:14 talk to Tabby Besley about what the conference meant to them. Delegates representing rainbow youth groups from New Zealand and the Pacific Islands came together in Auckland for three days (7-9 February 2014) of workshops and discussion.
Speakers covered a range of topics including governance and leadership, digital strategy, creating an inclusive environment, and intersex, transgender, fa'afafine and takaktāpui specific issues. This podcast was made possible through generous support from the Rule Foundation
Summary
The "NXT:14 Youth Leaders Conference" interview, recorded in Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand, is a profound reflection of the ambitions, challenges, and inspirations of young leaders within the rainbow community. Delegates from New Zealand and the Pacific Islands congregated to attend workshops, discussions, and learn from each other's experiences from February 7th to 9th, 2014. The key themes that emerged from the conference revolved around the need for better funding, education, inclusivity, and representation within the rainbow community.
Participants, including Bella Simpson, Duncan Matthews, unidentified speakers, and Toni Duder, interviewed by Tabby Besley, shared insights into their motivations for attending the conference. With goals to become youth workers, enhance leadership skills, gain political insights, and improve community understanding, attendees recognized the conference as a pivotal platform. They highlighted several issues facing the rainbow community such as inadequate funding, the dearth of comprehensive education in schools, unsafe environments for transgender youth, and the need for inclusive representation across the sexual and gender spectrum, particularly within Pacific Maori populations.
During the interview, it was emphasized that the conference facilitated essential networking, the exchange of innovative ideas, and the sharing of personal experiences, consequently fostering strategic collaborations. Delegates pointed out the need for proactive engagement with family and communities to elevate acceptance and understanding. Inspirational workshops addressing trans and intersex human rights, stories of resilience like the formation of the student army after the earthquakes, and speakers who delved into the history of the rainbow movement in New Zealand stood out as transformative experiences for the attendees.
Solutions suggested by the conference participants included mobilizing support packages for gender inclusivity, the creation of dialogue groups where transgender students can voice their challenges, and advocating for the visibility of typically marginalized identities within the LGBTQ+ acronym. Moreover, they underlined the significance of the conference in initiating important conversations, connecting with international voices and experiences, and advocating for a unified movement against internalized homophobia.
The call for proudly claiming and asserting identities resonated through their discussions, as did the conviction for adopting strategic communication rather than resorting to hate speech. One participant envisioned a future where safe church environments for LGBTQ+ individuals could exist harmoniously. Another envisaged impactful change by openly expressing their identity in their community spaces, such as religious institutions which have traditionally been sources of homophobia.
Unanimously, the attendees at NXT:14 recognized that the conference was critical for laying a foundation for effective leadership, the advancement of civil and political rights, and shaping a more inclusive and diverse future for all communities. Their experiences and insights provide a comprehensive overview of the aspirations held by young rainbow leaders to collectively address the pressing issues of safety, representation, and visibility for a more just and equitable society.
Reflecting on these accounts, the NXT:14 Youth Leaders Conference emerges as a vital congregation point to empower the next generation of community representatives, while also underscoring the work that remains to be done to ensure equity and security for all within the rainbow communities of New Zealand and the broader Pacific region.
This summary is created using Generative AI. Although it is based on the recording's transcription, it may contain errors or omissions. Click here to learn more about how this summary was created.
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